. This paper gives a fairly detailed description of an algorithm that computes (the size of) the 2-Selmer group of the Jacobian of a hyperellitptic curve over Q. The curve is assumed to have even genus or to possess a Q-rational Weierstra point. 1. Introduction Given some curve C over Q , one would like to determine as much as possible of its arithmetical properties. One of the more important invariants is the MordellWeil rank of its Jacobian J , i.e., the free abelian rank of J(Q ) (finite by the Mordell-Weil Theorem). There is no algorithm so far that provably determines this rank, but it is possible (at least in theory) to bound it from above by computing the size of a suitable Selmer group. It is also fairly easy to find lower bounds by looking for independent rational points on the Jacobian. (It can be difficult, however, to find the right number of independent points, when some of the generators are large.) With some luck, both bounds coincide, and the rank is determined. In...

We construct examples of families of curves of genus 2 or 3 over Q whose Jacobians split completely and have various large rational torsion subgroups. For example, the rational points on a certain elliptic surface over P of positive rank parameterize a family of genus-2 curves over Q whose Jacobians each have 128 rational torsion points. Also, we find the genus-3 curve ) = 0, whose Jacobian has 864 rational torsion points.

Abstract. It has been conjectured that for N sufficiently large, there are no quadratic polynomials in Q[z] with rational periodic points of period N. Morton proved there were none with N = 4, by showing that the genus 2 algebraic curve that classifies periodic points of period 4 is birational to X1(16), whose rational points had been previously computed. We prove there are none with N = 5. Here the relevant curve has genus 14, but it has a genus 2 quotient, whose rational points we compute by performing a 2-descent on its Jacobian and applying a refinement of the method of Chabauty and Coleman. We hope that our computation will serve as a model for others who need to compute rational points on hyperelliptic curves. We also describe the three possible Gal(Q/Q)-stable 5-cycles, and show that there exist Gal(Q/Q)-stable N-cycles for infinitely many N. Furthermore, we answer a question of Morton by showing that the genus 14 curve and its quotient are not modular. Finally, we mention some partial results for N = 6. 1.

Abstract. It is shown that the obvious method of descending from an element of the 2-Selmer group of an elliptic curve, E, will indeed give elements of order 1, 2 or 4 in the Weil-Chatelet group of E. Explicit algorithms for such a method are given. 1.

. This survey discusses algorithms and explicit calculations for curves of genus at least 2 and their Jacobians, mainly over number fields and finite fields. Miscellaneous examples and a list of possible future projects are given at the end. 1. Introduction An enormous number of people have performed an enormous number of computations on elliptic curves, as one can see from even a perfunctory glance at [29]. A few years ago, the same could not be said for curves of higher genus, even though the theory of such curves had been developed in detail. Now, however, polynomialtime algorithms and sometimes actual programs are available for solving a wide variety of problems associated with such curves. The genus 2 case especially is becoming accessible: in light of recent work, it seems reasonable to expect that within a few years, packages will be available for doing genus 2 computations analogous to the elliptic curve computations that are currently possible in PARI, MAGMA, SIMATH, apec...

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We derive the equations necessary to perform a 2-descent on the Jacobians of curves of genus two with rational Weierstrass points. We compute the Mordell-Weil rank of the Jacobian of some genus two curves defined over the rationals, and discuss the practicality of using this method.